Tip for billiard-cues.



C. A. HOWE.

TIP FOR BILLIARD CUES.

APPLICATiON mm Aus.23, 191:.

l 1 9 l ,308. Patented July 18, 1916.

INVENTOR- M 4 447K 2M2 M CHARLES A. HOWE, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

TI]? FOR BILLIARD-CUES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J uly 1S, 1916.

Application filed August 23, 1915. Serial No. 46,898.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. HowE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a' new and useful Improvement in Tips for Billiard-Cues, of which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relates to tips for billiard cues, and particularly to renewable tips.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved tip for billiard cues, which is of simple construction and does not increase the size of the one so as to make it clumsy or unwieldy, which does not interfere with the delicate uses to which the cue is put, which provides a tip having a uniformly efficient cushioning surface, and which tip can be readily and easily replaced when worn or hardened so as to be unfit for further use, and which is also interchangeable on a plurality of cues.

Further objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part'will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one ,embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cue provided with my improved tip; Fig. 2 is alongitudinal section thereof; and Figs. '31 and 4 are sectional views, showing modified forms of tip.

A common form of billiard one tip is a round leather button with a convex outer surface and a fiat inner surface glued or cemented directly to the end of the billiard cue. When this tip breaks off or becomes worn or hardened so as to require replacement, a new tip must be shaped to fit the particular one and glued or cemented thereto, an operation requiring careful selection and shaping and delicate manipulation.

The common form of quickly renewable tip usually includes some attaching member connected to the leather button, as a screw or other device entering an opening in the back of the button and attachable to a part of the cue. Such devices are objectionable, as the screw or other part, where it penetrates the button, produces a hard, unyielding central portion, so that a uniform cushioning or yielding effectis not produced over the entire button, and different effects are obtained as the object ball is struck with the center or edge portions of the button.

My improved construction comprises the usual shank or shaft 1 to the end of which is connected a sleeve 2. The connection between these two parts may be made in any outer wall has a slightly tapered or conical surface to fit a similarly shaped cavity or socket 6 in the end portion of the sleeve 2 and formed by slightly flaring its wall. The thimble 5 is also bent or pressed to form an L-shaped annular flange having an inner annular surface Sforming an abutment to take the blows on the tip button and an outer shoulder 9 which may nearly meet or may.

actually" abut the end of the sleeve 2, although a slight space is preferably left at this point so as to insure a tight wedging or friction connection between the sleeve and thimble.

The outer portion 10 of the L-shaped flange is first formed cylindrical and is then rolled or .compressed inwardly upon the base of the tip button 11 so as to firmly embed itself therein and permanently hold it by the grip of the reversely tapered or constricted flange surface.

The button 11 may seat directly against the annular surface 8, or a continuous backing surface may be provided therefor. For example, inFi'g. 2, a sheet metal washer 12 is placed beneath the button with its edge portions lying against the surface 8. A drop of glue may be placed between the button 11 and washer 12, but this is usually not essential, aS the thimble flange is sufficient to firmly hold both the washer and button.

In Fig. 3 the thimble is a sheet metal member and the backing surface is formed by a plug .13, which may be of wood or'turned or cast metal, and whose outer surface is fiush with the annular surface 8. When of its outer flange portion 14 sufliciently thin to enable it to be pressed inwardly to secure the button 11.

To enable the thimble to be readily removed when it becomes stuck or too firmly wedged in its socket, the sleeve 2 may be provided with a .side opening 1A through which a small tool may be inserted to pry or force it out.

lVith this form of billiard cue tip the difficulties in renewing tips are largely overcome, due to the fact that a billiard hall can keep on hand a large number of duplicate thimbles 5 provided with new buttons 12. As the tips of cues in use become worn or defective, their thimbles 5 can be easily removed and new ones substituted therefor. This operation requires only a moment, so that all of the cues can be kept in use constantly. The invention is also of advantage in places where a skilled tip-maker is not accessible. Furthermore, the tip is selfcentering and always occupies a central ,position on the end of the cue and cannot become displaced.

What I claim is 1. A billiard cue, comprising a shaft pr0- vided with a sleeve having a frusto-conical smooth surfaced end cavity, and a frustoconical member having a smooth surface frictionally held in said cavity and carrying a button.

2. A billiard cue, comprising a shaft having a sleeve provided with a smooth tapered socket, and a smooth tapered member fitting said socket and provided with a button.

3. A billiard cue, comprising a shaft having a sleeve provided with a smooth tapered socket, a smooth tapered thimble fitting said socket and provided with a backing surface, and a button in said thimble lying on said backing surface.

4. A billiard cue, comprising a shaft having a sleeve provided with a smooth tapered socket, a sheet metal thimble having a smooth tapered portion fitting said socket and provided with an annular shoulder, a washer within said thimble and abutting said shoulder, and a button in said thimble and lying adjacent said washer.

'5. A billiard one tip, comprising a member having a smooth tapered portion provided with a socket or seat, and a button secured to said seat.

6. A billiard cue tip, comprising a sheet metal thimble having a smooth tapered portion and flanged outwardly to form a seat, and a button on said seat, the outer portion of the flange being bent inwardly to secure said button to its seat.

,7. A billiard cue tip, comprising a smooth surfaced frusto-conical member having a transverse seat at its large end, and a button secured to said seat.

8. A-billiard cue tip, comprising a smooth surfaced frusto-conical member adapted to be attached to a cue shaft and provided at its large end with a transverse seat, and a button secured to said seat.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES A. I-IOl/VE. Witnesses:

ELBERT L. HYDE, SUE B. FRITZ.

Copies ofthis patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing-the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

